Folding box.



J. H. ZELL.

FOLDING BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAB..21,1913.

Patented July 14, 19.14.

ms Norm: PETERS c0" wAsnmumn. 0. c4

STAWENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. ZELL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AULL BROTHERS PAPER AND BOX COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FOLDING BOX.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs H. ZELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to boxes and more particularly to boxes formed of paper, or other flexible material, which are capable of being collapsed into a flat form to facilitate shipping and storing.

The object of the invention is to provide a box of this kind which can be very quickly and easily folded into and secured in box form; and to provide such a box with fastening or retaining devices formed integral with the box itself.

To this end it is a further object of the invention to provide the walls of the boxes with inturned portions adapted to have interlocking engagement with extension side flaps and thus secure both the end and the side walls in their assembled positions.

Tn the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one end of the box in its collapsed relation and the other end of the box partially opened to better disclose the construction; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box showing the same/in its setup relation, one end of the box being disengaged to better disclose the construction; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar View taken on the line 4-4 of F ig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the relation between the end wall and one of the end extension flaps.

In these drawings I have illustratedone embodiment of the invention and have shown the box as formed from a single blank of paper, card-board, straw-board, or other suitable flexible material, the term paper being herein used to designate any suitable material which may be employed. The paper blank is rectangular in shape and is divided into three longitudinal sections, a central section and side sections, the latter being adapted to fold upon the former, and, to this end, being creased or scored along the lines of division, which lines are indicated at 4 and 5. The blank is also Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 21. 1913.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Serial No. 755,917.

divided transversely into three sections by lines 6 and 7 which intersect the lines 4 and 5 at points removed some distance from the ends of the blank. The central portion of the blank which lies within the lines 4, 5, 6 and '7 forms the bottom of the box as indicated at 8. The intermediate portions of .the two side sections; that is, the portions lying outside the lines 4 and 5 and between the lines 6 and 7 are adapted to form side walls of the box as indicated at 9 and 10. The intermediate portions of the end sections, that is those portions lying outside of the lines 6 and 7 bet-ween the lines 4 and 5, are adapted to form the end walls of the boxes as indicated at 11 and 12. At each corner of the blank is a rectangular cornerpiece 13 secured at its edges to the adjacent edges of the respective end and side walls. These corner-pieces are adapted to fold on a diagonal lineextendin from the inner lower corner thereof as indicated at 14, and, to this end, the corner-pieces are preferably scored or creased to facilitate the folding operation. The corner-pieces are thus divided by the lines 14 to form resultant side extension flaps 9 and 10 respectively, and end extension flaps 11 and 12 respectively. The diagonal lines 14 terminate atpoints near the center of the respective corner-pieces, where they merge with slots 15 extending from thelateral edges of the respectivecorner-pieces. It will be apparent that when the side walls and end walls are moved, or folded, into their upright or assembled position the corner pieces will fold along the lines 14, and, when the walls have reached their upright positions, the adjacent side extension flaps and end extension flaps will lie parallel with the respective end walls as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The extreme outer portion or edge of each end section is adapted to fold inward upon the body portion-of said end section, and to this end, each end section is scored or creased along a transverse line as indicated at 16. Each line 16 intersects lines 4 and 5 and extends acrossthe end extension flaps 11 and 12" respectively. Each line 16 consequently forms a thin strip, or portion, 17. After the blank has been cut and scored as above described the two side sections are folded inward upon thecentral longitudinal section, and in a box of the proportions here shown the inner edges of the side sections will overlap throughout their length. After the side sections have been folded .inward the outer edges, or strips 17, are folded inward along the lines 16 and are secured to the body portions of the respective end.

walls, the connection being permanent to the extent that it is maintained both when the box is assembled and when it is collapsed. In the present form of the box the points of connection between the inturned edges of the end sections and the body portions of said sections are substantially midway be tween the edges of the respective end walls. This connection may be made in any suitable manner but as here shown the inturned portions 17, the end extension flaps, and the body portion of the end walls are respectively formed with openings 18, through which is passed a cord 19 by means of which the inturned edges are securely fastened to the end extension flaps and the end walls. If desired these cords maybe of a length suflicient to enable the outer ends thereof to be passed over the top of the box to secure the lid (not shown) on the same. By fastening down the inturned edges of the end walls of the box at points remote from their ends the ends of these strips or portions 17 are free to be swung upward and may thus be slipped over the upper edges of the adjacent side extension flaps. After the inturned edge has been swung over the side extension flaps, the resiliency of the material will draw the edges downward and lock the end walls to the corner-pieces consequentlyv to the side wall.

It is desired to construct this box so that there will be no lateral play between the end walls and the adjacent corner-pieces, and also in a manner to prevent any lateral movement bet-ween the side walls of the box. To this end each strip 17 is formed with elongated slots 2020, each slot being disposed along the line 16 and formed in a respective end extension flap. It will thus be observed that when the box isassembled the outer edgeof each opening 20 will engage the inner face of the adjacent side extension flap and thereby assist in further retaining the'sidewall against lateral movements, said;

slots also serving to permit the strip 17 being readily folded without danger of; breaking the card-board. In order to for'men interlocking connection between the end walls and the side walls so as to prevent lateral movement of said side walls thelat eral' edges of the side extension flaps are formed with projections, or'tongues 21, which pass through the slots 20 and enter corresponding openings 22 which are formed in the strip 17. The slots 20 are-much longer than the openings 22 and permit the tongues 21 to easily enter the openings 22:

In order to facilitate the setting-up of the box, the respective pairs of end extension flaps are connected by a tongue and slot connection which is indicated as awhole by the reference numeral 23. As a-res ult'whenithe end sections are lifted theside walls will be caused to assume their proper or operative positions.

The boxes as delivered to the userhas the side sections folded upon the central section and the edges of the end sections folded inward and fastened. When in this condition the several parts are in planes adjacent to and substantially parallel with the plane of the bottom 8 of the box, and consequently form a small compact package which can be packed for shipment or storage. When it is desired to assemble the box itis only nec essary to grasp the end walls and lift the same upward. This action folds the cornerpieces along the dia onal lines and causes the side extension flaps to move outward carrying the side walls with them. Thus. the single action of moving the end walls upward carries all the parts-into'tlieir assembled positions and it is only necessary to spring the inturned edges over the upper edges of the corner-pieces to have a'firmly constructed box. This operation can be performed very quickly and easily and when thefolding is complete the parts of the box are firmly united and a strong durable structure is provided.

lVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the same has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. r

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A box comprising a bottom, side walls and end walls secured to the respective edges of said-bottom and movable into planes substantially parallel with said bottom or into positions at substantially right angles to the latter are at right angles to said bottom,

said end walls and those POT/010119016 said corncradjacent to said end walls having their edges turned inward and downward and arranged to extend over the upper edges of those portions. of the respective corner pieces adjacent to the side walls. said cornerpieces having slots along the lines on which they are turned inward.

2. A box comprising a bottom, side walls. and: end walls secured-to the respective edges of-said bottom and movable into planes sub-J stantially parallel with said bottom or into ositions at substantially right angles to said ottom, corner pieces secured to the respective edges of said side walls and said end walls and adapted to fold along diagonal lines to enable them to be moved into-positions parallel with said end walls when the latter are at right angles to said bottom, those portions of said corner pieces adjacent to the end walls being secured to said end walls at points between the sides of said end walls and the upper edges of said corner pieces and said end walls being turned inwardly and downwardly and permanently secured to the respective end walls between the opposite sides thereof, the end portions of said inturned edges being adapted'to be sprung over the upper edges of those portions of the respective corner pieces which are secured to the side walls.

3. A box comprising a bottom, side walls and end walls secured to the respective edges of said bottom and movable into planes substantially parallel with said bottom or into positions at substantially right angles to said bottom, corner pieces secured to the respective edges of said side walls and said end walls and adapted to fold along diagonal lines to enable them to be moved into positions parallel with said end walls when the latter are at right angles to said bottom, those portions of said corner pieces adjacent to the end walls being secured to the respective end walls at points between the sides of said end walls and the upper edges of said corner pieces and said end walls being turned inwardly and downwardly and secured to the body portion of the respective end walls between the opposite sides thereof, the end portions of said inturned edges being adapted to extend over the upper edges of those portions of the respective corner pieces which are secured to the side walls, and means for locking said inturned edges in engagement with said corner pieces.

4-. A box comprising a bottom, side walls and end walls secured to the respective edges of said bottom, and movable into planes substantially parallel with said bottom or into positions at substantially right angles to said bottom, corner pieces secured to the respective edges of said side walls and said end walls and adapted to fold along diagonal lines to enable them to be moved into positions parallel with said end walls when the latter are at right angles to said bottom, those portions of said corner pieces adjacent to the end walls being secured to the respective end walls at points between the sides thereof and the upper edges of said corner pieces and said end walls being turned in wardly and downwardly and secured to the body portions of the respective end walls between the opposite sides thereof, said inturned edges being arranged to extend over the upper edges of those portions of the respective corner pieces which are secured to the side walls, the inturned portions of said corner pieces having slots along the lines on which they are folded and the inturned portions of said end walls having openings therein along the lines upon which they are folded, said openings registering with the slots in the respective corner pieces and those portions of said corner pieces which are secured to said side walls having tongues on theirupper edges to enter the openings in said end walls.

5. A box comprising a bottom, side walls and end walls secured to the respective edges of said bottom and movable into planes substantially parallel with said bottom or into positions at substantially right angles to said bottom, corner pieces secured to the respective edges of said side walls and said end walls and adapted to fold along diagonal lines to enable them to be moved into positions parallel with said end walls when the latter are at right angles to said bottom, the inner portions of said corner pieces being secured to the body portions of the respective end walls at points between the sides thereof and the upper edges of said corner pieces and said end walls being turned inwardly and downwardly and secured to said end walls between the opposite sides thereof, the end portions of said inturned edges being adapted to be sprung over the upper edges of those portions of the respective corner pieces which are secured to the side walls, those portions of said corner pieces which have their upper edges turned inward having slots along the line upon which their edges are folded adapted to receive the upper edges of those portions of said side pieces which are secured to the side walls.

6. A box formed from a blank comprising a central section and side sections, and each section comprising an intermediate portion and end portions, said side sections being folded inward upon said central section, the end portions of both side sections forming corner pieces adapted to fold along a diagonal line extending from that corner thereof adjacent to the intermediate portion of the center section and the end portions of said side sections being secured to the end portions of said central section, the intermediate portions of said side sections being adapted to form the side walls of the box and the end portions of the central section beingadapted to form the end walls of the box, said end portions having their outer edges turned inward and permanently secured to the respective end portions at points between the sides thereof, said inwardly turned portions having ends arranged to be sprung over and to engage said corner pieces adjacent to the side walls to secure said end walls and said side walls in their upright positions.

7. Ablank for a box comprising a rectangular sheet scored to divide the same into a central section and side sections and scored transversely to the first-mentioned sections to form side walls, a bottom and corner pieces, the lateral portions of said corner pieces having inwardly extending slots and said corner pieces being scored diagonally from the inner ends of said slotsto the adj acent corners of said bottom, the end portions of said central section and said corner In testimony whereof I {LffiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. ZELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. KALBFUs, FRANK MCBRIDE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

